Planning Meetings in the Colorado Rocky Mountains

 

By Beth Buehler

 

When planning meetings in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, there are so many great destinations, hotels and venues to choose from. Many Colorado mountain communities started out as mining towns and most have transitioned to tourism with the introduction of ski resorts, a full menu of outdoor activities, unique cultural attractions, and concerts and festivals galore.

 

This blog covers the towns in Destination Colorado Meetings’ mountain region. The association’s 170-plus members stand ready to assist you in planning meetings here and there is an easy online RFP process that helps planners connect to destinations, hotels, resorts, suppliers and destination management companies in Colorado that fit a group’s outlined parameters.

 

Planning meetings in the Colorado Rocky Mountains also is made easier through the presence of regional airports in Aspen, Eagle and Gunnison. Black Hawk and Grand County are in fairly close proximity to Denver International Airport, and experienced transportation companies stand ready to assist wherever groups wish to go in the state. Amtrak’s California Zephyr train route is a scenic and easy way to travel through the mountains year-round, connecting the beautifully restored Denver Union Station (DUS) to Granby, Fraser, Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction. During the winter, Amtrak Winter Park Express runs from DUS to the ski area base at Winter Park Resort.

 

Roaring Fork Valley

Aspen has retained its small-town character but offers cosmopolitan amenities, a global vibe, and a terrific selection of meeting and event venues. It is a place that many people long to see, making it an ideal place for attracting attendees. The Wheeler Opera House and Aspen Art Museum provide unique backdrops for events, and the historic Hotel Jerome, Limelight Hotel Aspen, Mollie Aspen, The Gant Aspen and The Little Nell offer easy access to downtown and provide the full package for groups with lodging, dining, meeting and event space, and amenities like pools, spas and activated outdoor space. On the quieter and lovely west end, Aspen Meadows Resort is located on 40 acres and is built in the Bauhaus style.

Snowmass Village is only 9 miles from downtown Aspen. One of the big benefits of meeting in these neighboring destinations is that Aspen Snowmass (owned by Aspen One) owns four ski areas in the area: Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Snowmass. All four have their own distinct personalities, amenities, varied terrain for skiing and snowboarding, and function space. Most have mid-mountain venues that are sure to impress.

 

Head north on Highway 82 to reach Glenwood Springs and Interstate 70, the major roadway running from east to west across much of Colorado. The community’s status as a hot springs destination dates back to 1888 when Walter Devereux and his partners introduced Glenwood Hots Springs Resort and went on to open Hotel Colorado only three years later. The town also sits at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers. In addition to the various local hot springs and vapor caves, Glenwood Springs is known for Glenwood Hot Springs Adventure Park and Sunlight Mountain Resort ski area, both able to serve groups. Hotel Colorado offers the most meeting and event space and recently renovated its guest rooms, and Glenwood Canyon Resort along the Colorado River has cabins and glamping for something different. Glenwood Springs is served by both Aspen/Pitkin County Airport to the south and Eagle County Airport to the east, near Beaver Creek and Vail.

 

Vail Valley

When planning meetings in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, it’s helpful to know that Beaver Creek and Vail are located about 15 to 20 minutes apart. The whole corridor that also includes towns like Avon, Eagle, Edwards and Minturn is known as Vail Valley, which has more than a dozen golf courses within a 38-mile radius and is connected by the paved Vail Recreation Path.

 

Beaver Creek and Vail have multiple high-end options that are perfect for incentive trips or any gathering where luxury is a priority, but there also are a variety of options at different price points. Venues accessed only by sleigh, gondola and snowcat make getting there just as fun as enjoying a meal.

 

Beaver Creek also has the Vilar Performing Arts Center and full-service hotels with significant meeting and event space like Beaver Creek Lodge; Park Hyatt Beaver Creek; The Charter at Beaver Creek; The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch; and The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon, Vail Valley. Several of the hotels partner to host larger village-wide meetings and events.

Vail Mountain’s Epic Discovery at the top of Eagle Bahn Gondola is an option for fair-weather fun including an alpine coaster, rock-climbing wall, bungee trampolines, summer tubing, and more, while the Nature Discovery Center is the launching point for hikes and snowshoe tours with Walking Mountains Science Center. Properties like Four Seasons Resort Vail, Grand Hyatt Vail, Highline Vail, Lion Square Lodge at the Gondola, Sonnenalp Hotel, The Hythe Vail, The Lodge at Vail, and The Sebastian – Vail provide the whole package for groups, and Vail Golf & Nordic Clubhouse is ideal for off-site events.

 

Summit County

Vail Resorts owns Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek Resort ski areas as well as Keystone Resort and Breckenridge Resort in Summit County. Breckenridge, established in 1859 during the height of the Colorado Gold Rush, is about 90 minutes from Denver. There is over 43,000 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate groups of up to 1,500 attendees, with the largest being Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center. The newly renovated and renamed Hotel Alpenrock Breckenridge is located across the street, adding to the lodging and meeting space options, along with and Residence Inn by Marriott Breckenridge. Epic Discovery Peak 8 Basecamp, the 750-seat Riverwalk Center, Breck Create Arts District and tastings and tours at Breckenridge Distillery also are among the highlights.

Not far from Breckenridge is Frisco with a charming downtown, a marina along the shore of Dillon Reservoir, and the Peninsula Recreation Area and Frisco Adventure Park with disc golf, trails and picnic sites for summer and fall excursions or snow tubing, Nordic skiing and a beginner ski and snowboard hill for winter outings. Small groups can meet and stay at AC Hotel Frisco.

 

Moving on to Keystone, the biggest news is the addition of Kindred Resort in the second half of 2025 featuring a ballroom for up to 350, smaller breakout rooms and an outdoor courtyard space. The largest local option is Keystone Conference Center with 100,000 square feet of meeting, exhibit, and event space, and Keystone Lodge and Spa adds another 5,700 square feet of flexible space for small- to mid-sized meetings.

 

Also in Summit County, but not part of Vail Resorts portfolio, is Copper Mountain Resort. Divided into three villages that are within close proximity, minimal transportation is needed in this pedestrian-friendly destination. Meeting attendees can walk from nearly all accommodation options to Copper Mountain event space, shops, restaurants and activities like skiing, snowboarding, biking and golf. The 16,000-square-foot Copper Conference Center is in the heart of Center Village, and a mid-mountain venue, The Aerie, is sure to impress.

Black Hawk, Grand County & Steamboat Springs

For a completely different mountain experience, head to Black Hawk, located 25 miles west of Denver. There are 16 gaming and entertainment venues, including Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk. After a day of meetings in the 4,000 square feet of space that can host groups of up to 250, attendees can relax with a spa treatment and casino gaming.

 

When planning meetings in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and having a desire to stay relatively near Denver, Grand County also is a good option. Year-round activities, lodging, meeting and event space and many other amenities are available at Winter Park Resort, Granby Ranch, YMCA of the Rockies – Snow Mountain Ranch, and the county’s two high-end guest ranches: Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa and C Lazy U Ranch.

Another one of Colorado’s iconic mountain towns is Steamboat Springs, home to a world-class ski resort and blissful hot springs for pure relaxation before or after meetings and events. Steamboat Springs is the perfect blend of western cowboy culture and alpine athletics and has the Steamboat Grand with 327 guest rooms and eight meeting rooms only steps from the slopes.

 

Planning meetings in the Colorado Rocky Mountains is a treat as there are so many great choices. Some groups select one mountain town and go back year after year, while others like to shake it up and rotate around the state. It’s even possible to integrate more than one Colorado mountain town on an agenda since several are in close enough proximity.

 

Top Photo: Courtesy C Lazy U Ranch

 

Colorado native Beth Buehler has been editor of Colorado Meetings + Events magazine for 20 years, helped launch Mountain Meetings magazine, and was on the team that introduced Southwest Meetings + Events. She has planned numerous meetings and events and enjoys exploring Colorado.